Gus Honeybun
Encyclopedia
Gus Honeybun was the station mascot for Westward Television
, and later Television South West
, from 1961 to 1992. A puppet rabbit, and star of Gus Honeybun's Magic Birthdays, he achieved a longevity for a TV puppet second only to Sooty
.
Gus Honeybun was filmed at Westward/TSW's Plymouth
studios in the Derry's Cross part of the city. There were four different Gus Honeybun puppets and TSW employed a person to create Gus Honeybun's wardrobe. Gus had a theme tune composed by TV composer, Ed Welch
, and a short video was made to accompany it, featuring Gus & several TSW presenters walking around in Plymouth. A 7" single of the theme song was released in several local record shops. Other Gus merchandise available were cuddly toy puppets, keyrings and car stickers. One car sticker said "Watch Gus on TSW!" and had both his face & the TSW logo on it.
Gus Honeybun (given the full name Augustus J Honeybun by some continuity announcers) was supposedly found under a gorse bush on Dartmoor
in 1961 by the founders of Westward Television
. Several ITV
franchise stations had at one time had a regional birthdays slot (often following Children's ITV
or the predecessor children's television slot) with a continuity announcer and puppet announcing children's birthdays. Today Channel Television
is the only region to continue with such a practice with its Puffin's Pla(i)ce
programme. With Gus the announcer would read out a birthday card and the puppet would give a jump, known as bunny hops,for each year of the childs' life. Alternatives to bunny hops were ear waggles, head stands, winks and later "putting out the lights" and a colour distorting "magic button". Gus appeared with virtually every Westward/TSW presenter, including the likes of the late Ian Stirling
, Fern Britton
, Judi Spiers
, David Fitzgerald, Ruth Langsford
& Sally Meen
.
During the TSW-era, Gus was broadcast twice a day on weekdays (before & after Children's ITV), and usually once a day at weekends. The show usually lasted about 2 or 3 minutes per episode. From 1987 - 1990, TSW used to often opt-out of showing the first & last Children's ITV in-vision continuity links of the day, so it could fit in Gus' birthday slot on weekday afternoons. It was also rumoured that in September 1989, the 'real' reason TSW moved the tea-time repeat of Australian soap, Home and Away
from its original slot of 5:10pm, to an earlier time of 3:27pm, was to give Gus some more air-time, therefore also ending anymore CITV opt-outs. The opt-outs were eventually stopped for good in January 1990.
There was also a TSW/Gus branded Hoppa bus, which was made by local bus & coach company, Western National
. It was in regular use by them on most service routes, until TSW's demise in 1992.
Gus Honeybun was so identified with regional television in the south-west that, when TSW's managing director Harry Turner presented the station's ITV franchise renewal in 1991, he took Gus with him. However, Gus's "Magic Birthdays" series and his career at the station were cancelled at the start of 1993, when Westcountry Television
took over from TSW after winning the franchise.
The last ever Gus Honeybun programme in 1992 saw Gus returned to the moor and reunited with his rabbit family. The successor ITV franchise Westcountry did provide a successor programme called Birthday People
but this was cancelled in 2004.
The puppet was spoofed on Victoria Wood As Seen On TV
by Susie Blake
's continuity announcer character accompanied by 'Wally Wallaby'. Terry Wogan for some time referred to Gloria Hunniford (whose show preceded his on national BBC Radio 2
) as Gloria Honeybun.
Today, a Gus Honeybun attraction can be found at The Flambards Experience amusement park
in Helston
, Cornwall
.
Gus Honeybun now appears on The Full Cornish Breakfast on Atlantic FM
.
In the post-apocalyptic novel by Jasper Fforde
entitled Shades of Grey which is set 1500 years into the future, Devon and Cornwall is now known as 'The Honeybun Peninsula'
Westward Television
Westward Television was the first ITV franchise holder for the South West of England from 29 April 1961 until 31 December 1981. After a difficult start, Westward provided a popular, distinctive and highly regarded service to its region, until public boardroom squabbles led to its franchise not...
, and later Television South West
Television South West
Television South West was the ITV franchise holder for the South West England region from 1 January 1982 until 31 December 1992, broadcasting from the former Westward Television studios in Plymouth, Devon.-Origins and Launch:...
, from 1961 to 1992. A puppet rabbit, and star of Gus Honeybun's Magic Birthdays, he achieved a longevity for a TV puppet second only to Sooty
Sooty
Sooty is a British glove puppet bear and TV character popular in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and other countries. The children's television show which bears his name has continued in various forms since the 1950s and, according to the Guinness Book of Records, is the...
.
Gus Honeybun was filmed at Westward/TSW's Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
studios in the Derry's Cross part of the city. There were four different Gus Honeybun puppets and TSW employed a person to create Gus Honeybun's wardrobe. Gus had a theme tune composed by TV composer, Ed Welch
Ed Welch
Edward William "Ed" Welch is an English television composer.-Career:In 1971, he recorded an album, Clowns, including songs he had co-written with Tom Paxton, and session musicians including Mike de Albuquerque and Cozy Powell. In 1972, acted as producer on a version of “I Don't Know How to Love...
, and a short video was made to accompany it, featuring Gus & several TSW presenters walking around in Plymouth. A 7" single of the theme song was released in several local record shops. Other Gus merchandise available were cuddly toy puppets, keyrings and car stickers. One car sticker said "Watch Gus on TSW!" and had both his face & the TSW logo on it.
Gus Honeybun (given the full name Augustus J Honeybun by some continuity announcers) was supposedly found under a gorse bush on Dartmoor
Dartmoor
Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The...
in 1961 by the founders of Westward Television
Westward Television
Westward Television was the first ITV franchise holder for the South West of England from 29 April 1961 until 31 December 1981. After a difficult start, Westward provided a popular, distinctive and highly regarded service to its region, until public boardroom squabbles led to its franchise not...
. Several ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
franchise stations had at one time had a regional birthdays slot (often following Children's ITV
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
or the predecessor children's television slot) with a continuity announcer and puppet announcing children's birthdays. Today Channel Television
Channel Television
Channel Television is a British television station which has served as an Independent Television contractor to the Channel Islands since 1962. It is based in Jersey...
is the only region to continue with such a practice with its Puffin's Pla(i)ce
Puffin's Pla(i)ce
Puffin's Place is a British regional children's programme broadcast on ITV1 Channel Television on weekend afternoons...
programme. With Gus the announcer would read out a birthday card and the puppet would give a jump, known as bunny hops,for each year of the childs' life. Alternatives to bunny hops were ear waggles, head stands, winks and later "putting out the lights" and a colour distorting "magic button". Gus appeared with virtually every Westward/TSW presenter, including the likes of the late Ian Stirling
Ian Stirling (broadcaster)
Ian Andrew Stirling was a British actor and television presenter, best known for his work with Westward Television and Television South West....
, Fern Britton
Fern Britton
Fern Britton is an English television presenter, known as the former main co-presenter on the ITV magazine programme This Morning alongside Phillip Schofield. She left the show on 17 July 2009, her 52nd birthday.- Early life :...
, Judi Spiers
Judi Spiers
Judi Spiers is a presenter on British radio and television.Spiers began her broadcasting career at Westward Television in 1977, the ITV station for south-west England. She impressed in the birthday slot with Gus Honeybun with cheeky humour. In short order, she moved to the What's Ahead...
, David Fitzgerald, Ruth Langsford
Ruth Langsford
Ruth Langsford is an English television presenter.Langsford began her career as a continuity announcer and newscaster with ITV regional station TSW in the South West of England...
& Sally Meen
Sally Meen
Sally Meen , is an English television presenter.Meen has a degree in Catering and Institutional Management, and latterly qualifications in Art and Design. Her TV career started out on TSW, before becoming a weather presenter on GMTV...
.
During the TSW-era, Gus was broadcast twice a day on weekdays (before & after Children's ITV), and usually once a day at weekends. The show usually lasted about 2 or 3 minutes per episode. From 1987 - 1990, TSW used to often opt-out of showing the first & last Children's ITV in-vision continuity links of the day, so it could fit in Gus' birthday slot on weekday afternoons. It was also rumoured that in September 1989, the 'real' reason TSW moved the tea-time repeat of Australian soap, Home and Away
Home and Away
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
from its original slot of 5:10pm, to an earlier time of 3:27pm, was to give Gus some more air-time, therefore also ending anymore CITV opt-outs. The opt-outs were eventually stopped for good in January 1990.
There was also a TSW/Gus branded Hoppa bus, which was made by local bus & coach company, Western National
Western National
Western National was a bus operating company in South West England from 1929 to the 1990s.-Early history:Western National Omnibus Company Ltd started in 1929 as a joint venture between the Great Western Railway and the National Omnibus & Transport Company...
. It was in regular use by them on most service routes, until TSW's demise in 1992.
Westcountry Cult
Gus Honeybun attracted a cult following and it was not unknown for adults to write in requesting "bunny hops" etc. 12 was the official age limit for having a birthday read out on air so people of 40 were presented as being 4 and so on!Gus Honeybun was so identified with regional television in the south-west that, when TSW's managing director Harry Turner presented the station's ITV franchise renewal in 1991, he took Gus with him. However, Gus's "Magic Birthdays" series and his career at the station were cancelled at the start of 1993, when Westcountry Television
Westcountry Television
Westcountry Television, is the ITV franchise holder in the South West of England, replacing its predecessor, TSW , from the 1 January 1993...
took over from TSW after winning the franchise.
The last ever Gus Honeybun programme in 1992 saw Gus returned to the moor and reunited with his rabbit family. The successor ITV franchise Westcountry did provide a successor programme called Birthday People
Birthday People
Birthday People was a British children's television programme that ran for several years on the south west of England's regional channel Westcountry Television...
but this was cancelled in 2004.
The puppet was spoofed on Victoria Wood As Seen On TV
Victoria Wood As Seen On TV
Victoria Wood As Seen On TV was a British comedy sketch series starring comedienne Victoria Wood, with Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Duncan Preston, Susie Blake and Patricia Routledge...
by Susie Blake
Susie Blake
Susie Blake is a British actress.-Personal life:Blake trained at the Arts Educational School and LAMDA in London. She is the granddaughter of the actress Annette Mills and a great - niece of the actor Sir John Mills...
's continuity announcer character accompanied by 'Wally Wallaby'. Terry Wogan for some time referred to Gloria Hunniford (whose show preceded his on national BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
) as Gloria Honeybun.
Today, a Gus Honeybun attraction can be found at The Flambards Experience amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
in Helston
Helston
Helston is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated at the northern end of the Lizard Peninsula approximately 12 miles east of Penzance and nine miles southwest of Falmouth. Helston is the most southerly town in the UK and is around further south than...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
.
Gus Honeybun now appears on The Full Cornish Breakfast on Atlantic FM
Atlantic FM
Atlantic FM, is a radio station based in and serving Cornwall, United Kingdom. The station, owned by Atlantic Broadcasting Ltd, began broadcasting on July 6, 2006 at 0730 BST, and is broadcast from St Agnes...
.
In the post-apocalyptic novel by Jasper Fforde
Jasper Fforde
Jasper Fforde is a British novelist. Fforde's first novel, The Eyre Affair, was published in 2001. Fforde is mainly known for his Thursday Next novels, although he has written several books in the loosely connected Nursery Crime series and begun two more independent series: The Last Dragonslayer...
entitled Shades of Grey which is set 1500 years into the future, Devon and Cornwall is now known as 'The Honeybun Peninsula'